Thermostatic snap control.



H. J. LONG.

IHERMOSTATIC SNAP CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1914.

1,231,527n Patented J 1111s 26,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. J. LONG.

THERMOSTATIC SNAP CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l4, I914.

Patented June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEE1:2-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT J. LONG, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOTHE LONG,

LANDRETH SCHNEIDER (10., OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TIONOF NEW JERSEY.

THERMOSTATIC SNAP CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

To all whom it, may concern:

Be itknown that I HERBERT citizen of the United States, residing at NewBrunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jerse haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Thermostatic Snap' Controls, ofwhich the following is a speclfication, the principle of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

' My invention relates to a thermostatic valve control operating on thesnap principle. A

I am aware that thermostats have been employed for many years to eithergradumaximum burning efficiency, as well as annoyance from pufling orflashing back in they mixing chamber of a burner not equipped with agauze partition, might be avoided. have been contrived for theutilization of this discovery have not been sufficiently reliable evenwaiving complication, since the major extent ofmovement of thethermostat in say, the direction of opening, while idle as regards-thetransfer of such movement to the valve was equally idle as a deterrentof possible independent openin of the valve.

Accordingly, the object o th1s nvention, besides involving a structuresimple and economical of manufacture, is to provide a substantiallyfrictionless thermostatic snap valve control which While adapted tocuinulate and release energy 'suflicientto suddenly completelybpen orentirely shut a valve, will positively and attimes witheven increasingfirmness, hold the latter in either extreme position until thevery moiment when a complete return tothe other extreme position is initiated.Only in this.

way can the snap operation of a valve be uniformly effective and hencereliable.

J. Lone, a

However, such mechanisms as Figure I is an elevation of a water heatingcircuit embodying together with my invention, a heater, storage tank andsuitable gas and water connections.

Fig. II is an enlarged view of my thermostatic snap-control proper.

Fig. III is a vertical section on line III- III of Fig. II showing theposition of the parts when the valve is close Fig. IV is a similar viewwith the parts in the position assumed when the valve is open.

Fig. V is a section on line VV of Fig. IV looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Fig. VI illustrates a modification involving1 the incorporation of anadditional detai The inventive conception is associated with means whichare hereinafter explained and variously combined in the (ilaims. Whilethe annexed drawing and particular description thereof, set forth thepreferred form embodying my invention, it should be understood that themeans only exemplify some'of many diversified mechanical forms withwhich the principle of my invention may be properly applied.

A water heating system wherein it is desired to maintain the temperatureofthe water at an approximately predetermined degree by means of anautomatic thermostatic control is seen in Fig. I to include .a heater 1provided below with burners 2 to which fuel is conducted by pipes 3leading to a source of so ply and from which the flow may be out 0, atthe valve 1.

A pilot-5 shown-iii ignitible proximity to the burner draws its fuelthrough the pipeb,

which connects with the pipe 3 beyondth'e valve 4 in ,the usual way. Theheater carries'a stack 7 in its top and'has its water inlet and outletsconnected with return and P discharge pipes 8 and 9 respectively each ofwhich in turn connects at different heights with a storage tank 10provided above with an outlet ll to be connected with the faucet.

Operatively connected between thepipes 3 and as further shown in Fig. Iintermediatelv of the valve 4 and point of connection Tot-the pipe 6, isa valve 12. Interiorly this valve is fashioned with a seat 13 againstwhich a head 14 which is secured to a stem 15 is adapted to be drawn Thestem 15 projects through a suitable stufling box 16 and is to be snapactuated within the limits of the seat 13 and a suitable stop 17constituting the essence of this inventionand reserved for laterdescription.

The upper portion of the valve 12 is inserted in an opening which isnear the free end of a projecting portion 18 of a hollow casting whichincludes as other integral portions two transverse extensions 19 onopposite sides of the portion 18 likewise connected by a stiffening web20. The ends of the, extensions 19 are formed as partially annularflanges 21 having arcuate recesses 22 as parts of a common circle.Disposed in the recesses 22 is an annular flange of a hollow member 23'.The latter is removably secured therein as illustrated in Fig. IIthrough the agency of overlying plates 24 and bolt and nut combinations25. The member 23 is taper threaded at 26 in an annular flange 27secured about an opening 28 in the tank 10. Such connection is 'clearlydepicted in Figs. III and IV. Carried by and communicating through themember 23 is a closed elongated tube 29 of somewhat reduced diameter.This tube 29 is perhaps preferably of copper and contains ether or itschemical equivalent having as one of its properties quick expansionunder heat and which is prevented of escape by a flexible diaphragm 30secured to the inner edge of the flange upon the member 23. Soldered orotherwise affixed to the center of the diaphragm 30 is an outwardlyprojecting screw-threaded plunger 31 and this latter is precluded frommovement save in the direction of its own axis by a guiding rod 32extending axially of the tube.

A forked valve operating arm 33 is fulcrumed upon a pin 34 extendingthrough a pair of bearing brackets 35 formed upon the inner surface ofthe web 20. The opposite extremity of the arm 33 articulates in anyfeasible manner with the valve stem 15 or any other valve actuatingmember. In the drawings the arm 33 has a forked extremity positionedbetween two adjustable nuts 36. The inner edge of the junction of thetwo forks of the arm 33 is fashioned as a pair of downwardly andupwardly converging beveled surfaces 37 and 38. A comparatively shortlever 39 is also fulcrumed upon the-pin 34, has a lug 40 upon its topabout .in line with the member 31 and its free exa reacting togglearrangement.

The set screw 46 is provided with a lock nut 47 "whereby the tension ofthe spring following adjustment'may be so maintained until requiringfurther regulation.

.A pair of telescoping members 48 and 49 best shown in Figs. III andIVtogether connect the crotch of the arm 33 and free end of the lever39. Each such groove comprises upper and lower converging surfaces,those of the member'48 are designated as 52 and 51 respectively whilethose of the member'49 are designated as 52 and 53 respectively. Thesurfaces 50 and 51 are adapted substantially to conform to the surfaces41 and 42 while the surfaces 52 and 53 are adapted to substantiallyvconform to the surfaces 37 and 38. A compression spring 54 surrounds themembers 48 and 49 intermediately of their end flanges and serves to holdthem in engagement respectively with the free end of the lever 39 andthe crotch of the forked arm 33 whereby to establish Finally connectingthe thermostatically reciprocable plunger 31 with the lever 39 is afemale threaded cap 55 having its lower end surface 56 adapted forengagement with the lug 40. The extent which the projection of the cap55 lengthens the plunger 31 may be varied upon a loosening of thelock-nut 57 v The operation of my thermostatic snapcontrol will bereadily understood if the twoextreme positions which the parts arecapable of assuming as shown in Figs. III and IV are inspected. It isapparent that the lever 39 together with the two telescoping members 48and 49 considered as an entity, are enabled to rock in engagement witheach other for a limited distance to either side of the plane ofalinement therebetween. The spring 43 is constantly tending to move thelever 39 in one direction whereas the thermostatically actuated plungeris periodically tending to overcome and actually capable of overcomingthe action of the spring 43 to swing the lever 39 in the oppositedirection. Owing to the fact that the spring 54 is ever tending toseparate the members 48 and 49, it is immediately permitted partially todo so whenever the lever 39 has been carried past its dead-centerposition 1 with reference to the member 48. At such a moment the outerend of the arm 33' is either suddenly lifted or forcibly depressed untilthe movementof the valve stem and hence of all the parts is arrested byreason of such stem having reached one prescribed limit of its travel.

In Fig. III the expansion of the ether in the tube 29 by the conductionof heat thereto has caused the expansion of the diaphragm against theaction of both of the springs43 and 54 until the lever 39 becamedepressed ever so slightly beyond deadcenter or below dead-center, asexemplified in the drawings. The action of the spring 54 thereupon snapsthe lever 39 and other parts into the position seen in Fig. III tocompletely close the valve 12 and cut oif lative firmness since thespring 54 is progressively undergoing added compression. Thiscircumstance is an especially noteworthy feature during a reversal ofthe operation when it is desirable to absolutely preclude the escape ofgas, probably as waste, during the interval of movement of-thethermostat preparatory to a rapid full opening of the valve. As the heatenveloping the other diminishes the latter contracts and hence also thediaphragm thus permitting the spring 43 to recover and further compress.the spring 54. Therefore, until the very instant of travel abovedead-center, when positive full opening of the valve is to occur thevalve is not only held positively closed but part of the time with acumulative degree of firmness.

The modification which Fig. VI illustrates involves auxiliary means inthe form of a compression spring 58 inclosing the inner ends of the stem15 and stop 17 whereby the valve is positively seated even during theshort interval when the snap-control is in its neutral position. i

A water-heating system supplied with my invention burns gas only whennecemary and at such times at the full 'rate of flow known to givemaximum efficiency, while at no time is gas allowed to escape unburned.

I claim 1. In a thermostatic snap-control the combination of a valveactuating part, a thermostatically actuated element, a pair of pivotedmembers, one of said members intersecting the path of movement of saidelement, a spring holding it against the latter, the other of saidmembers articulating with said valve actuating part, and resistancemeans forming together with said path intersecting member a reactingtoggle arrangement operatively connected with the member whicharticulates with said valve actuating part, the arrangement being suchthat gradual movement of said element in reversed directions presentlysnaps said valve actuating part in opposite directions.

2. In a thermostatic snap-control the combination of a valve stem, athermostatic motor, and actuating mechanism operatively connecting saidmotor and valve stem and including an arm articulating with the latter,said mechanism also including a reacting toggle arrangement constantlyconnecting the fulcrum and free end of said arm and adapted to storepower during the first portion of the movement of the motor in adirection to shift the valve and to give off the power thus stored afterthe actuating mechanism has been moved through a predetermined range ofmovement by said motor, whereby to effect a quick reversal of positionof said valve.

3. In a thermostatic snap-control, the combination of a valve actuatingmember, a thermostatically actuated plunger, and mechanism adapted tooperatively connect said member and plunger and including an armextending therebetwcen and articulating with the former, said mechanismalso including a spring controlled toggle arrangement, whereby anactuation of said plunger in the direction of opening of the valvesuccessively exercises a force upon the valve actuating member tendingto first close and then to open such valve.

4:. In a thermostatic snap-control, the combination of a water conduit,a pilot, burners, a fuel valve communicating with the latter, athermostat operatively associated with said conduit, and aspringcontrolled mechanism including an arm and a lever having fixedfulcrums and directly connected with said valve and thermostatrespectively and yieldingly with each other, a part of such mechanismconstituting a reacting toggle arrangement, said toggle arrangementbeing adapted to suddenly either wholly open or wholly close said valve,the arrangement being furthermore such that said valve is positivelyheld in one of its extreme positions until the moment of reversal to theother.

5. In a thermostatic snap-control, the combination of a water conduit, apilot, burners, a valve communicating with the latter, a thermostatoperatively associated with said conduit, an arm and a lever operativelyconnected with such valve and thermostat respectively and movable into aparticular plane, and means yieldingly connecting said arm and lever andforming in conjunction with the latter a reacting toggle arrangement,said means being movable into the same plane, whereby the begin and endof effective movement of said thermostat in either direction exercises areversed force upon the valve.

6. In a thermostatic snap-control, the combination of a water conduit, apilot, burners, a fuel valve communicating with the latter and includinga valve stem, a thermostat operatively associated with said conduit andhaving an actuating plunger, a pivoted lever extending across the pathof movement of said plunger, an arm fulcrumed near said lever pivot andconnected to said valve stem, said lever and arm adapted to swingrelatively to each other, means including a spring yieldingly connectingthe free ends of said arm and lever to form a reacting togglearrangement, and a return spring arranged to resist the action of saidthermostat upon said lever.

7. In a thermostatic snap-control the combination of a valve stem, athermostatically actuated member, and mechanism operatively connectingsaid member and valve and including; an arm having a fixed pivot and afree end articulating directly with said stem, together with a reactingtoggle arrangement adapted to play between such fixed pivot and free endof said arm whereby alternately to shift the position of the latter inresponse to the action of said member.

Signed by me, this 1st day of September, 1914.

HERBERT J. LONG.

W. V G. SELAVER.

